Da Xuan Martial Saint

After adapting to the Five Viscera Transformation twice, Chen Mu immediately left the courtyard.

It was now deep into the night, the pitter-patter of the rain had ceased at an unknown time, replaced by an obscure mist that enveloped the heavens and the earth, almost to the point where one couldn't see one's own fingers when extended.

The late hour combined with the dense fog meant that even for a martial artist, visibility was greatly reduced. However, within the county government, there were many hazy lights still, and from time to time, sounds of people and horses moving could be heard, indicating that despite the late hour during the tidal disaster, the county government was still bustling with activity.

Chen Mu didn't pay too much attention and, after discerning the direction, headed towards the smelting platform.

Since no one had come to report any incidents to him, it meant everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion with no unexpected occurrences, so there was no need for him to intervene excessively.

He soon arrived at the smelting platform, where the mist was just as pervasive but the lights were bright.

In front of the central, massive furnace, Qi Ge, who was over seventy, stood there with some bloodshot in his eyes, staring at the flames. His entire being seemed fatigued, and his energy somewhat wilted.

Sensing someone approaching, Qi Ge immediately looked up. Seeing Chen Mu approaching, he hastily greeted him:

"My lord."

"What's the situation?"

Chen Mu glanced at the furnace fire and asked.

Qi Ge said with some difficulty, "The rain during the day wasn't a problem, but to my surprise, the fog came up at night. The humidity is too dense, affecting both the furnace fire and the forging. The blade that should already have been tempered is always lacking the last bit of solidifying. Forcing the tempering would result in inferior quality, so we can only wait for the fog to lift, or forge it several more times. This has delayed the hour, and I hope for the lord's forgiveness."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Weather is unpredictable, it's not your fault."

Chen Mu spoke in an even tone and then glanced at the furnace fire. "According to what you said, if we could increase the furnace fire a bit and disperse some of the mist, we could forge it in one go?"

Qi Ge nodded and said, "Yes, this old man still has that confidence."

"Good."

After nodding slightly, Chen Mu approached the furnace fire and waved his sleeve.

In an instant, the charcoal fire in the furnace suddenly flared up, the intense blazing flames and heat seeming to dispel some of the nearby mist. Even Qi Ge, standing on the side, could feel the heat intensified by a degree.

This is... Separating Fire Artistic Conception?

Qi Ge was inwardly shocked, standing on the side, he lowered his head to look at the furnace fire.

In his youth, he had been a renowned craftsman in an outer prefecture, forging more than one treasured artifact and having encountered beings beyond the Five Viscera Realm not just once. Though some matters had led him to eventually settle in Jingyu County, his eye for detail remained sharp.

He vaguely remembered his disciple, Fang Yi, saying that Chen Mu, the new Inspectorate Metropolitan Commander, had mastered Wind Thunder Artistic Conception.

However, for someone as young as Chen Mu, a talent of his caliber developing a new artistic conception wasn't a surprise.

Qi Ge quickly cleared his thoughts and continued to focus on the furnace fire, his spirits lifting. He was somewhat worried that his old age and physical strength wouldn't hold up, but with the aid of Separating Fire, he would surely be able to complete the task in one go, and the quality might even be improved.

A moment later.

Qi Ge stepped forward and said, "My lord, it's about time."

Chen Mu nodded slightly, then waved his sleeve, and the Separating Fire Artistic Conception spread throughout the confined smelting room, dispersing much of the dense vapor between heaven and earth, and drying out the room.

Qi Ge drew the glowing red blade from the furnace and placed it upon the forging platform. After examining it carefully, he immediately swung the forging hammer. After dozens of hammering strikes, he focused on the blade's edge, then performed the final quenching.

Sizzle!

The blade, tempered by the icy water, regained its shape, retaining the form of the Silverstream Saber that Chen Mu had used before. However, the entire blade now shimmered with specks of ruddy luster, emitting a faint heat.

Qi Ge took only a brief look before joyfully handing the saber to Chen Mu:

"Mission accomplished!"

Although this saber wasn't the most perfect among the artifacts he had forged, it fully utilized the Mysterious Fire Ore's potential. Among the artifacts with 'affinity,' it ranked among the top quality ones.

Chen Mu reached out and took the saber. With just one hold, he felt a heat coming from the blade that resonated exceptionally well with his Separating Fire Artistic Conception. Using this saber to wield the might of Separating Fire would be three times greater!

"Master Qi has worked hard."

Chen Mu looked at the blade, his emotions not evident on his face, and responded calmly.

Qi Ge bowed deeply, "Serving the lord is this old man's honor."

Chen Mu gestured dismissively with his hand.

Qi Ge then took the hint and quietly retreated, leaving Chen Mu alone in the room.

Chen Mu examined the saber in his hand carefully, then casually swung it a couple of times, shooting two fire blades from the edge, "Very good, from now on, it shall be called the Flowing Fire Blade."

The Flowing Fire Blade wasn't sharpened, or rather, for artifacts with 'affinity,' sharpening wasn't necessary at this quality level. The importance was not the sharpness but whether the artistic conception power could flow unhindered through the blade. After all, for someone at the Five Viscera Realm, with the Yuan Gang True Essence activated, even dead wood or bamboo could slice through metal like mud.

Of course.

If such an artifact fell into the hands of an ordinary person without martial skills, it would be almost useless, not as good as a sharp common blade.

Chen Mu sheathed the Flowing Fire Blade, and although the scabbard wasn't specially made and allowed a sliver of heat to escape, it didn't make much of a difference visually.

Upon exiting the smelting room, Chen Mu took one look at the dense fog and the pitch-black night sky. After a brief contemplation, he summoned an official from the Inspectorate, gave a few instructions, and then quietly left the county government in the thick mist.